September 25, 2012

2012 Territory Fall Classic
Location: The Territory Golf Club • Duncan, Okla.
Result: A&M-Commerce places sixth out of 12 teams (31-over 607)
Top Finisher: Patrick Russo captures the individual title with a 1-over 145
Up Next: 2012 Texoma Championships • Oct. 1-2 • Durant, Okla.

2012 Territory Fall Classic Final Results (PDF)

DUNCAN, Okla. – Junior Patrick Russo fired a 2-over 74 over the final round, then held off a challenging field to capture the individual title at the 2012 Territory Fall Classic with a 1-over 145. Russo paced the Lions to a sixth-place team finish, shooting a 31-over 607 for the 36 hole tournament.

Russo notched the first individual title of his career and became the fourth different Lion to win a tournament in the past two seasons, joining Chris Leasor (2011 Lion Fall Invitational), Marcus Sanna (2012 California Baptist Spring Break Collegiate) and Kason Childress (2012 Paris J.C. Dragon Fall Invitational). He entered the day tied for second, with a 1-under 71, then made a few key shots down the stretch en route to being named to the all-tournament team and notching the fourth top-10 showing of his career.

Teammate C.J. Clem also had an impressive Lion debut, shooting a 5-over 77 in round two to finish with a 5-over 149, finishing eighth and notching the first top-10 finish of his A&M-Commerce career.

Sophomore Cade Grimm was in search of his third top-20 showing, but an 8-over 80 slid him back into a tie for 28th with a 12-over 154. Jarret Martin posted a 15-over 159 while Kason Childress finished with a 25-over 169 to round out the A&M-Commerce scorecard.

Heading into the final round, the Lions were in a very favorable position, sitting atop the team standings with a comfortable five-stroke lead over both Incarnate Word and Midwestern State. But it was a lead A&M-Commerce wasn't able to hold as the Lions tumbled to sixth following a disappointing 27-over 315 over the final 18 holes, but finished just four strokes out of claiming the team title.

The 2012 Territory Fall Classic proved to be an incredibly competitive event as the top seven teams finished within five strokes of each other. Incarnate Word posted a 27-over 603 and won the team title by one stroke over Lone Star Conference rival Abilene Christian (28-over 604) and two shots better than Midwestern State (29-over 605). Dallas Baptist and host Cameron (30-over 606) tied for fourth after finishing three strokes back of the Cardinals, one shot better than the sixth-place Lions.

It was the first of three-consecutive tournaments for your A&M-Commerce golf team who return to action next week. The Lions make the short trip to Durant, Okla. for the 2012 Texoma Championships, hosted by Southeastern Oklahoma State at the Chickasha Pointe Golf Club. The opening 36 holes will take place on Monday, October 1st with the final round slated for Tuesday, October 2nd.

2012 Territory Fall Classic Final Results

Place	Golfer	Score
1st	Patrick Russo	71-74=145 (+1)
8th	C.J. Clem	72-77=149 (+5)
T-28th	Cade Grimm	74-80=154 (+10)
T-32nd	Seth Maxwell	75-80=155 (+11)
T-44th	Jarret Martin	75-84=159 (+15)
66th	Kason Childress	80-89=169 (+25)
6th	A&M-Commerce	292-315=607 (+31)

Players who competed as individuals in italics